Support assembly



Oct. 12, 1965 s. s. AVERETT SUPPORT ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invervkor' Sumner S. Avere'lziz GYM-KM fi-Hwuegs Filed Aug. 14, 1964 Oct. 12, 1965 s. s. AVERETT SUPPORT ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1964 Inventor Sumner $.Averett 5 flange, QM-KM J-Hfornegs Oct. 12, 1965 Filed Aug. 14, 1964 s. s. AVERETT 3,211,406

SUPPORT ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnveniar Sumner S. Avereit 53 [Jungle 5. 3 M

ornegAS United States Patent 3,211,406 SUPPORT ASSEMBLY Sumner S. Averett, Des Plaines, 111., assignor to Oxford Transducer Corporation, Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corpora. tion of Illinois Filed Aug. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 389,623 4 Claims. (Cl. 248183) The present invention relates to an improved support assembly and more particularly it relates to a support assembly adapted for rapid multi-position orientation and locking of a supported article.

There are, of course, many variations of bracket assemblies to support articles. Bracket support assemblies of the type contemplated by the present invention have been found particularly useful for speakers for public address systems or other articles where the supported article must be positioned in one of any of a number of positions and, for convenience, such positioning and subsequent locking in position must be done quickly and with positive control, such locking control being realized with a single actuating lever which is uniformly adjustable. Many types of brackets involve screwing or bolting the bracket clamps into position so that repositioning of the supported article involves unscrewing or unbolting of the clamp lock, repositioning the supported article (and clamp assembly) and then screwing or bolting the clamp to locked position. Still other assemblies involve the use of a wing-nut or the like for convenience in locking and unlocking the clamp assembly.

In the present invention the bracket assembly is quickly locked and unlocked by limited rotation of a single lever control. Operation of the lever and clamp assembly of the support member of the present invention serves to release the bracket support member for repositioning about either of two mutually perpendicular axes, giving three degrees of freedom within the limits of movement of the support assembly itself. The support assembly comprises a two part clamp assembly adapted to be moved toward and away from each other by a lever action. Movement of the lever member releases the clamp assembly for swivel movement on a base and releases the bracket support member for positionable movement along a direction orthogonally related to the direction of swivel of the clamp assembly. Thus, within the limits of movement of said members, the supported article may be oriented in any desired position and quickly clamped in said position by limited movement of the lever member to bring the clamp assembly parts together locking it in the said position.

It, therefore, is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved support assembly.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved support assembly in which a single hand member may be actuated as desired to quickly release or clamp the support assembly.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved support assembly having a lever means for operation of the clamp of the assembly for release and locking of the clamp in two restricted directions with one action.

An additional object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved support assembly that is economical to manufacture, is particularly suitable for die casting manufacture, that is easy to assemble and to operate, and to prevent unauthorized operation of the assembly.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved support assembly that is easily and positively secured in a fixed position to prevent unauthorized operation of the assembly.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the support assembly of the present invention showing a supported article (fragmentary view) affixed thereto;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the support assembly of FIGURE 1 schematically illustrating positioning of the ring;

FIGURE 2A is a fragmentary view of the article supporting portion of the ring of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 3 is a frontal view of the support assembly of FIGURE 2, partly in section, illustrating in detail the clamp assembly and lever action;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of the support assembly of the present invention taken along lines 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the support assembly of the present invention;

FIGURES 6A and 6B are views of a portion of the support assembly illustrating the clamping action of the two part clamp assembly to release the ring for sliding movement in the recesses of the two part clamp assembly and to lock the article support ring in position; and

FIGURES 7A and 7B are views of a portion of the clamp assembly and base showing the release and locking action of the clamp member with respect to the base.

Referring more particularly now to FIGURE 1, the support assembly of the present invention is indicated generally at 10 and includes a base 12, two part clamp assembly, generally 14, a control lever 16 and an article support ring 18. The supported article 20, in the illustration is shown as a portion of a speaker for a public address system or the like and is affixed to an extension of the ring 18.

The base 12 of the support assembly may be aflixed to a suitable support member 22 (which may be a pipe or other tubular support as seen in FIGURE 1), by means of the bolt 22a extending through the base 12 and into the member 22. A hexagonal recess 220 is defined in the base 12 (as seen more clearly in FIGURE 4) to receive the hexagonal head of bolt 22a to prevent rotation of the bolt with respect to base 12. The member 22 may be in the form of a threaded cap having a closed end plate 22b and threadably received in a pipe (not shown). It can readily be seen that differing means of affixing the support assembly to support means would be obvious and the specific means of attachment of the base 12 forms no part of the present invention.

The ring 18 of the support assembly 10 is generally circular except for a bracket extension 26 as seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2 of the drawings. In the form shown the extension 26 is of generally V-shaped side configuration and extends substantially tangentially from one portion of the ring 18 to an apex outboard the base circle of the ring 18 and then is folded back to intersect hte base circle of the ring 18. The entire ring bracket 18 is integrally formed including the extension 26, said extension having a boss 28 extending from the upper face thereof and a reinforcing rib 30 between the arms of the V-shaped extension. An opening 32 extends through the extension 26 from the bottom portion thereof through the upper face of the boss 28. A bolt, or the like, 34 is received within the opening 32 and is adapted to engage suitable fastening means on the article 20 to be supported by the ring bracket 18 to fasten the article 20 to the bracket 18 and thereby to the support assembly. As seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings the ring 18 is positionable within the bracket in a plurality of positions. The ring 18 is rotatable within the clamp assembly 14 about axis A into, for example, positions 26 above the horizontal boss position or 26" below the horizontal boss position. It should be observed that the ring 18 is slidable through an arc of about 340 as seen in FIGURE 2, the unadjustable 20 portion being represented by the extension portion 26 of the ring. The unadjustable portion of the ring may be varied in accord with the dimension of the extension portion 26, however, there are limits where adjustability may not be achieved in that the supported article is likely to abut the support post, member or base.

As seen more clearly in FIGURES 3 and 4, the base 12 of the support assembly is defined by a circular support member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 36 to receive fasteners. In the present embodiment, the base 12 is aflixed to a suitable support panel with screws 24 which extend through openings 36 and into the support panel 22. Thus the base 12 is rigid with respect to the brake support panel. The base 12 defines an upstanding boss 13 extending upwardly from the upper face 11 of said base. The outer peripheral wall of the boss 13 defines a frusto-conical segment having its smallest dimension adjacent the upper face 11 of the base 12 and tapering outwardly and upwardly to its largest dimension at the upper terminal of said boss. A central bore 17 extends through said boss 13 and the body of the base 12. A bolt or other fastener, may be inserted in this bore to fasten the base 12 to a suitable support member, if desired. A hex-nut and mating head opening 220 in the bore 17 will provide for non-slip fastening of the base in the same manner as the plurality of circumferentially spaced screws as seen in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. This method of assembly also makes unauthorized removal of the support assembly more difficult than is the case with the exposed screws. Generally, attachment by means of a bolt will be used for fastening the assembly to a pipe, or the like.

The two-part clamp assembly 14 includes split sections 38 and 40. The section 38 has an inner face 42 defining a base plane. A recess 43 extends from the bottom face 44 of the section 38 inwardly of the body thereof, said recess at its lowermost portion defining a semicircular open area having tapering side walls extending from the smallest upon dimension adjacent the face 44 and tapering radially outwardly to the largest open dimension inwardly of the body of section 38 thereby to define a split frusto-conical wall segment 46. A substantially central opening 48 extends through the section 38 from the outer wall 50 of the boss 52 on said segment through to the inner face 42 thereof said opening 48 defining a larger diameter bore 54 adjacent the wall 50. A substantially V-shaped recess 56 (as defined in crosssection) is provided adjacent the upper terminal of the section 38, said recess 56 extending longitudinally of the section 38 in generally are shaped configuration having the same general degree of curvature as the ring 18 of the support assembly 10, the arced nature of the recess 56 being illustrated generally in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. A smaller recess 58 is defined between the V-shaped recess 56 and the central opening 48 of section 38, said recess 58 adapted to provide for fiexure of the rib of material 60 extending between recesses 56 and 58, respectively, and to provide means for accommodating the ring 18 when clamped therein without excessive clamping forces being required to stabilize the ring within the recess, as defined hereinbelow.

The other section 40 of the clamp assembly 14 is formed in much the same manner as that defined for section 38, above. A substantially V-shaped recess 62 is provided in section 40 adjacent the upper terminal of the section and in mating, mirror-image, relation to the recess 56 of section 38 so that when sections 38 and 40 are in assembled relation the juxtaposed recesses 56 and 62 will define a substantially diamond shaped configuration in cross section. A recess 64 is defined just below recess 62 and is separated therefrom by a strip of material 66, said recess 64 providing means for fiexure of the lower face of the V-shaped recess to accommodate the ring 18 when it is positioned in the assembled support member. A central opening 68 extends from the outer wall 70 of the section 40 through to the inner wall 72 thereof. A

flange 74 is defined adjacent the inner wall 72 of section 40 having a smaller diameter central opening 75 and providing a restriction against complete passage of a nut (described below) through said section 40. A recess 43' is defined adjacent the bottom face 44 of the section 40, said recess defining along its perimeter a split frusto-conical wall segment 46 in the same manner as wall segment 46' in the same manner as wall segment 46 of section 38.

The support assembly 10 is assembled first by positioning the ring 18 within one of the V-shaped recesses of the clamp assembly 14, for example, by placing the ring 18 within the recess 56 of section 38. Section 38, with the ring 18, then is inserted on the base 12 with the frusto-conical wall segment 46 thereof being positioned in mating relation with the frusto-conical wall 15 of the boss 13. An arcuate projection 45 is defined on the bottom face 44 of the section 38, said projection 45 being received within the arcuate track 47. The lateral dimension of the track 47 is sufficient to permit full lateral movement of the section 38 during operation of the assembly while guidingly receiving the projection 45 of the section 38.

The other section 40 of the clamp assembly 14 then is positioned on the base 12 in the same manner as the section 38 was so positioned. The recess 62 of section 40 is slipped over the ring 18 and the frusto-conical wall segment 46 is positioned in mating relation with the frusto-conical wall 15 of the boss 13. The projection 45' is positioned within the guide track 47 of the base to provide guide means during swivel action and movement of the clamping assembly 14 about the base.

A spring clip 76 having flaring gripping means 77 along the free edge thereof is positioned on the flange 74 of section 40. The main body section of the spring clip 76 extends away from the inner wall 72 of the section 40 and toward the wall 42 of section 38. When the sections 38 and 40 are in assembled relation on the base 12, the main body portion of the spring clip 76 is urged against the wall 42 of section 38 and the flaring gripping means 77 acts on flange 74 and therethrough on the section 40 thereby providing resilient biasing means to urge the sections 38 and 40 toward a position where the spring clip 76 is in an unstressed state, thus spreading the sections 38 and 40 to unlock them and provide for easy repositioning.

A carriage bolt 78, for example, may be inserted into the central opening 48 of they section 38, through an opening in the spring clip 76 and into the opening 68 of the section 40. A mating nut 80 is received within the opening 68 and is threadably received on the threaded portion 79 of the bolt 78. A square section 81 (hexagonal, etc.) of the bolt 78 is received in a mating recess 51 of the opening of section 38 to nonrotatably position the bolt in the opening.

The lever 16 is received on the head of the nut 80 in nonrotatable relation thereon. The lever 16 is fastened to the nut 80 by a machine screw 82 extending through the lever 16 and into the head of nut 80. The lever 16 may be keyed to the nut 80 to assure non-rotatable interconnection therebetween although it should be observed that other means to assure this result may be employed.

The lever means of the support assembly provides for quick and effective clamping and release action both for the ring 18 and to control the swivel action of the clamp assembly 14 on the base 12. With the lever 16 positioned as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the clamp assembly members are drawn together and the ring 18 and clamp assembly 14 are locked. When the lever 16 is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 2 through about 90 the nut 80 is threadably moved axially along the threaded portion 79 of the bolt 78 thereby to lengthen the axial distance between the head of the bolt 80 and the head of the bolt 78. The spring 76 then acts to push the sections 38 and 40 apart to release the ring 18 within the diamond shaped recess 56-62 and to release the frictional locking engagement between the frusto-conical walls 46- 46' and 15. The ring 18 and clamp assembly 14, when so released, may be rotated to the desired position. The ring and clamp assembly are locked in the desired position by returning the lever 16 to the position of FIGURES 2 and 3. This action will cause the nut 80 to threadably move axially upon the threaded portion 79 of the bolt 78 and shorten the distance between the head of bolt 78 and the nut 80 to bring the two-part clamp assembly 14 together.

The locking and release action will be more clearly understood by reference to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B. As seen in FIGURE 6A, when the section 38 and 40 of the clamp assembly 14 are in spread or spaced-apart relation due to the biasing action of the spring 76, the recess within which the ring 18 is received and as defined by the V-shaped recesses 56 and 62 is slightly larger than the overall dimension of the ring 18 as taken either in horizontal or vertical section. Thus the ring 18 is freely and slidably guidingly received within the recess 56-62 and may be moved about therein until it is in the desired position. When the lever 16 is moved to bring the sections 38 and 40 of the clamp assembly 14 together and into locking position, the lateral dimension of the recess 56-62 is shortened in accord with the lateral movement of the sections 38 and 40 toward each other. Movement of the sections 38-40 should be suflicient to bring the walls of the recesses 56-62 into frictional clamping engagement with the ring 18 to frictionally clamp the ring Within the clamp assembly and prevent further movement thereof. The movement of the sections 38 and 40 laterally may be varied by varying the pitch of the threaded portions of the bolt 78 and nut 80 or by varying the length of the arc through which the lever 16 is moved. In one support assembly manufactured in accord with the teachings herein defined, the lever 16 is moved through about 90 between locking and release positions of the assembly to provide quick and positive locking and release action of the assembly. The frictional engagement between the walls of the recess 56-62 and the ring 18 need be sufficient only to prevent movement of the ring 18 when clamped into the desired position. Any additional applied clamping force will not functionally contribute to operation of the clamping assembly and will lend to difficulty in operation thereof.

The lever may be provided with an opening H through which a wire, or other fastening means, is inserted. The wire then may be looped about the ring 18 and tightly gripped to afiix the position of the lever 16 with respect to the ring 18 and to prevent loosening of the ring 18 with respect to the base once positioned and so locked.

The swivel action of the clamp assembly is achieved as noted hereinabove. The sections 38 and 40 are rotatably mounted for swivel action on the boss 13. As noted above, the projections 45 and 45 of the sections 38 and 40, respectively, are mounted in the track portions 47 of the base 12, the track 47 being of sufficient later dimension to permit sliding action of these sections 38 and 40 toward and away from each other, as defined above, without having the projections 45 and 45 leave the track.

As seen in FIGURE 7A, when the sections 38 and 40 are in spaced-apart relation, the frusto-conical walls 46, 46', and 15 are out of frictional engagement and the sections 38 and 40 may be freely bodily rotated about the boss 13 and are guided in such swivel action by the projections 45, 45 and the track 47. When the sections of the clamp assembly 14 are disposed in the desired position of swivel, the lever means is operated to bring the sections together. As the sections are brought together, the frusto-conical wall segments 46 and 46' frictionally engage the wall 15 of the boss 13. The frictional engagement between the wall segments of the clamp assembly and the wall of the boss 13 should be sufficient to prevent unintentional movement of the clamp assembly during use.

It can readily be seen that the invention described hereinabove provides a construction wherein quick locking and release action may be realized with minimal action of an easily operable lever means associated therewith. The locking action is positive and easily variable and the release action is of the type where the supported elements are released from locking action only but still are supported on the assembly and removal is not required for repositioning of the supported article.

It should be noted that the support assembly defined above may be adapted for use with many other supported articles and has been specifically defined for use with speakers for the purpose of illustrating the inventive concept. For example, the bracket may be used as a camera mount on a tripod, or other support member; it may be used as a telescope mount in combination with a Vernier adjustment and for many other mounting purposes.

While a specific embodiment of the present invention is shown and described it will, of course, be understood that other modifications and alternative constructions may be used without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and alternative constructions as fall within their true spirit and scope.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An improved support assembly having quick fastening and release lever action for rapid and positive multi position orientation and locking of a supported article, said assembly comprising: a base member having an upstanding boss, said boss having a truncated conical wall tapering from its smallest dimension adjacent the base outwardly to its largest dimension at the terminal of said boss away from said base; a two part clamp assembly received on said upstanding boss for swivel movement thereon, each part of said two part assembly having a recess, said recesses being in juxtaposed relation to define a laterally adjustable ring receiving recess; lever means operatively associated with said two part clamp assembly to move said parts laterally toward and away from each other thereby to vary the size of the ring receiving recess within a predetermined range; said lever action also adapted to clamp and to release said clamp assembly in a selected position of swivel; and, a ring bracket slidably received within said ring receiving recess of the clamp assembly and adapted to be clamped into position when said lever is operated to move the clamp assembly parts toward each other and reduce the size of said ring receiving recess when said lever means is operated to move said two parts away from each other.

2. An improved support assembly having quick fastening and release lever action for rapid and positive multiposition orientation and locking of a supported article, said assembly comprising: a base member having an upstanding boss, said boss having a truncated conical wall tapering from its smallest dimension adjacent the base outwardly to its largest dimension at the terminal of said boss away from said base; a two part clamp assembly received on said upstanding boss for swivel movement thereon, each part of said two part assembly having a first recess, said first recesses being in juxtaposed relation to define a laterally adjustable ring receiving recess, each part of said two part clamp assembly having a second recess defining, in part, a frusto-conical wall segment, said two part clamp assembly being received on the boss of the base with the frusto-conical Wall segments in mating relation with the trunicated conical wall of the boss; lever means operatively associated with said two part clamp assembly to move said parts toward and away from each other thereby laterally to vary the size of the ringreceiving recess within a predetermined range, said lever action adapted also to clamp and release said clamp assembly in a selected position of swivel; and, a ring bracket slidably received within said ring receiving recess of the clamp assembly and adapted to be clamped into position when said lever is operated to move the clamp assembly parts toward each other and reduce the size of said ring receiving recess and to be released for sliding movement within said ring receiving recess when said lever means is operated to release said clamp assembly from locking engagement.

3. An improved support assembly having quick fastening and release lever action for rapid and positive multiposition orientation and locking of a supported article, said assembly comprising: a base member having an upstanding boss, said boss having a truncated conical wall tapering from its smallest dimension adjacent the base outwardly to its largest dimension at the terminal of said boss away from said base; a two part clamp assembly received on said upstanding boss for swivel movement thereon, each part of said two part assembly having a first recess, said first recesses being in juxtaposed relation to define a laterally adjustable ring receiving recess, each part of said two part clamp assembly having a second recess defining, in part, a frusto-conical wall segment, said clamp assembly being received on the boss with the frusto-conical wall segments in mating relation with the truncated conical wall of the boss; lever means operatively associated with said two part clamp assembly to move said parts toward and away fromeach other and thereby to vary the lateral dimension of the ring receiving recess within a predetermined range, said lever action adapted also to clamp and release said two part clamp assembly in a selected position of swivel by bringing the wall segments and truncated conical wall into frictional engagement; a ring bracket slidably received within said ring receiving recess of the clamp assembly and adapted to be clamped into position when said lever is operated to move the clamp assembly parts toward each other and reduce the size of said ring recess and to be released for sliding movement within said ring recess when said lever means is operated to move said two parts away from each other.

4. An improved support assembly having quick fastening and release lever action for rapid and positive multiposition orientation and locking of a supported article, said assembly comprising: a base member having an upstanding boss, said boss having a truncated conical wall tapering from its smallest dimension adjacent the base outwardly to its largest dimension at the terminal of said boss away from said base; a two part clamp assembly received on said upstanding boss for swivel movement thereon, each part of said two part assembly having a recess, said recesses being in juxtaposed relation to define a laterally adjustable ring receiving recess; lever means operatively associated with said two part clamp assembly to move said parts laterally toward each other thereby to vary the size of the ring receiving recess within a predetermined range; said lever action also adapted to clamp and to release said clamp assembly; resilient bias means interposed between the parts of said two part clamp assembly to bias said parts to spaced-apart relation when released by said lever means; and a ring bracket slidably received within said ring receiving recess of the clamp assembly and adapted to be clamped into position when said lever is operated to move the clamp assembly parts toward each other and reduce the size of said ring receiving recess and to be released for sliding movement within said ring receiving recess of the clamp assembly and adapted to be clamped into position when said lever is operated to move the clamp assembly parts toward each other and reduce the size of said ring receiving recess and to be released for sliding movement within said ring receiving recess when said lever means is operated to release the clamp assembly and the resilient bias means moves two parts away from each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,541 12/18 Cook 248-42 2,892,633 8/57 Moore 248-179 FOREIGN PATENTS 833,982 3/52 Germany. 841,025 6/52 Germany. 884,216 7/53 Germany.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED SUPPORT ASSEMBLY HAVING QUICK FASTENING AND RELEASE LEVER ACTION FOR RAPID AND POSITIVE MULTIPOSITION ORIENTATION AND LOCKING OF A SUPPORTED ARTICLE, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER HAVING AN UPSTANDING BOSS, SAID BOSS HAVING A TRUNCATED CONICAL WALL TAPERING FROM ITS SMALLEST DIMENSION ADJACENT THE BASE OUTWARDLY TO ITS LARGEST DIMENSION AT THE TERMINAL OF SAID BOSS AWAY FROM SAID BASE; A TWO PART CLAMP ASSEMBLY RECEIVED ON SAID UPSTANDING BOSS FOR SWIVEL MOVEMENT THEREON, EACH PART OF SAID TWO PART ASSEMBLY HAVING A RECESS, SAID RECESSES BEING IN JUXTAPOSED RELATION TO DEFINE A LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE RING RECEIVING RECESS; LEVER MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID TWO PART CLAMP ASSEMBLY TO MOVE SAID PARTS LATERALLY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER THEREBY TO VARY THE SIZE OF THE RING RECEIVING RECESS WITHIN A PREDETERMINED RANGE; SAID LEVER ACTION ALSO ADAPTED TO CLAMP AND TO RELEASE SAID CLAMP ASSEMBLY IN A SELECTED POSITION OF SWIVEL; AND, A RING BRACKET SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID RING RECEIVING RECESS OF THE CLAMP ASSEMBLY AND ADAPTED TO BE CLAMPED INTO POSITION WHEN SAID LEVER IS OPERATED TO MOVE THE CLAMP ASSEMBLY PARTS TOWARD EACH OTHER AND REDUCE THE SIZE OF SAID RING RECEIVING RECESS WHEN SAID LEVER MEANS IS OPERATED TO MOVE SAID TWO PARTS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. 